Six Nations - England (A Post-Mortem)

We don't usually do retrospectives on the Almanac. The vast majority of sporting engagement in our modern world is built around the sharing of opinion, frustration or adulation of thing's that have just happened, and it's normally not our style. But today, we make an exception as we release our final Six Nations episode, decidedly after the fact, and with its subject this season's championships biggest disappointment - England.

What is wrong with English rugby union currently? Four games ago England were unbeaten for a dozen matches and seemed on top of the world, and then it all came crashing down. But were the signs there before the fall? Did the run flatter to decieve and is the drop less surprising than the run itself? And what is it about the English psyche, and our culture, that stops us embracing the kind of innovation that has made France and Ireland so successful, and has itself been the bedrock of English success in so many sports historically?

From old farts in boardrooms to robotic coaches, uninspiring anthems to deep seated cultural conservatism - and arguably arrogance - about yet another sport we invented that the world simply does better than us. Be warned, here there be ranting.

Six Nations - All-Time XV

In a move not entirely lacking in self indulgence, Jack and Ben discuss, debate and select their all-time Six Nations XV from 26 years of the competition's history.

Tune in to find the answers to the real big questions:

Can two Englishmen bear to leave Martin Johnson on the bench?

Which Jonny starts at fly half?

How can Ben's heart really be telling him to leave Brian O’Driscoll out of the team?

And how many Welshmen can they nearly pick but still end up leaving out?

For all these answers and more join us - and as a bonus debate to finish, we ask who has the best national anthem in the tournament as well (spoiler: it's not England).

The Six Nations - France

Les Bleus. Brilliant. Erratic. Inconsistent. Wonderful. The Six Nations has been a rollercoaster for French rugby fans, early dominance followed by a dozen wilderness years that sparked fierce criticism and debate, triggering as so often happens in France, revolution.

And that revolution, building up their domestic game, strengthening pathways and processes has given France such an abundance and depth of talent and remade them into perennial Six Nations challengers or champions and - whisper it quietly - potentially favourites for next year's World Cup.

Today, we look at the history of French rugby, how rugby league nearly won out before fascism destroyed its very foundations. We look at France's Six Nations years, the highs, the deep, long lows, and the recovery. As they sit poised to potentially make it back-to-back wins, we wonder how far this revolution can go, and what the rest of the world can do to stop them.